cenc automatic determination: at 10:25 on Aug 4 a preliminary magnitude ~3.3 earthquake occurred near Gaoxian, Yibin, Sichuan (28.53°N, 104.67°E). Final magnitude will be confirmed in the official rapid report.

North Korea's KCNA on the 4th cited a military commentator's 3rd‑day article saying the US, Japan and South Korea are consolidating a 'triune' threat through joint drills and force realignments that could become a new Asia‑Pacific security crisis. The commentary cited July US‑South Korea exercises to strengthen bilateral air interoperability, including a large‑scale joint logistics support exercise; US plans to reorganize the US Forces Japan command into an independent integrated joint force command to coordinate with Japan's Joint Operations Command; and deployment of a 'Typhon' medium‑range missile system in Japan with planned deployment to South Korea. It said Japan has publicly discussed nuclear armament and held US‑made Tomahawk cruise‑missile launch drills in the Pacific, while South Korea is advancing nuclear‑submarine development. The commentator warned these actions undermine regional security and increase instability and called for restraint.

Chevron (CVX.N) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) shares plunged, down 2.2% and 0.8% respectively, after Trump said the companies were "making too much money".